Gambling has been around for a long time and people gamble to win money, for enjoyment and excitement, to socialise, and to escape negative feelings arising in their personal lives. In due course, different types of sports were discovered which eventually led to betting in sports. Sports betting can be defined as the activity of predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome. In recent times, a landmark ruling from the Supreme Court enabled states in the United States of America to legalise sports betting. Today, legalised sports betting is available to us on our cellphones, in the comfort of our homes.
According to Professor Richard Daynard from Northeastern University, gambling is an addiction and when someone gets hooked to it, it may have serious health impacts. There has been a rapid growth in the sports betting industry with its addicts paying the heaviest prices. While it is legal, it may not be considered ethical by many. Addicts may spend well beyond their limits and as a result, erode funds that were probably saved for college fees or mortgage. As a result, in case of an unfavourable outcome, people end up exhausting their life-savings. This leads to high levels of stress and broken relationships with the close ones. Stress is seen as a leading cause of heart diseases and mental disorders by experts.
Some may argue that eventually it is up to an individual to fix their limits of expenditure and they’re good to go. However, a significant number may not have enough self-control and may be heading towards a pitfall. With the ever-growing industry, situations are only going to get worse unless a lid is put in place. Professor Daynard suggests public awareness campaigns and responsible marketing from legal betting companies could be the answer. A compromise from the side of such companies could potentially save many lives.
Harman Singh